Disclaimer: I don't own Bakugan.
Chapter 3
Dan's POV
Buzz… Buzz
"Dan…" Drago groaned, "DAN!"
"Huh?" I mumbled, groggily.
DANIEL!
I sat upright in my bed, knocking my alarm clock off my bedside table as I did so.
"Huh? What? Where? Drago?" I questioned.
He glowered at me in response.
"I've been trying to get your attention for ages, Dan. Jeez you can be such a heavy sleeper when it comes to it," he groaned.
"Oh. Sorry bud. Was it my phone again? The spam messenger?"
"Like I would know," he snapped. "Just check it already and then put your phone on silent, okay?"
"But my phone was on–"
A quick glare from Drago shut me up.
I've been getting even more of these messages recently, and to say it drives Drago crazy is an understatement. He's already threatened to find another place to live in.
I checked my phone. A recording this time? That's new.
Sender: ?
Receiver: Daniel Kuso
Daniel Kuso? Is this you? No matter, I shall reveal my intentions anyway. I want you. You hold the key to great power and I want that power. That Apollonir has been lying to you. You aren't his son. You are mine… Not taking into account biology or anything like that… *ahem*
Respond to this message and you shall be granted access into my realm. Got it? So respond. … Have you responded yet? I'm waiting~ What? You want me to get off the phone? But it's my turn. Don't you give me that look. Hey! I am in charge here! What? Don't grab the phone like that? Huh? We're still recording? Um… Reply or else. Bye!
I faced Drago, who'd also listened, and promptly burst out laughing. "What was that message?"
"Hey Drago?" I spoke up, suddenly serious.
"Do you think they'll actually stop spamming me if I reply?"
"Maybe. Why don't you try it?"
"Okay," I said, getting prepared to type the response.
Sender: Daniel Kuso
Hey! So I got your message and I know I haven't responded but you know what? Your message amused me. Also I'd like for you to stop spamming my so that's why I'm replying. Please. Stop. Spamming. Me. Okay? Cool. Glad we got that sorted. Bye. Forever.
Regards, Daniel Kuso.
"And sent," I stated.
"Good. Maybe I can actually get some sleep around here," Drago said. "Wait, Dan?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you sure you sent that to the right number and everything? I mean, are you sure it had the same caller ID?"
"Um…"
I checked my phone quickly.
"It says here… It doesn't have one? This isn't the same person? And he mentioned Apollonir? What's up with this?"
"No clue. Anyway I'm off to sleep. Night."
"Don't just leave me hanging!" I exclaimed.
"Oh well," I shrugged. "I'll just see what happens in the morning."
? POV
Mwahahaha, he responded. Now his power will be MINE.
"Hey, how was it? Did you like my evil laughter? What? Cliché? What do you mean by that?"
A few hours later
Dan's POV
"Ah Drago? What do you think today will be like? I skipped the homework Miss Kisaki set us; I hope I'll survive. I mean it's Friday, so she can't be too hard on me right? Also, I hope I see Shun soon…" I blushed at the last statement. "It's the weekend tomorrow, maybe I can see him then?" I questioned, innocently.
Drago just rolled his eyes. "What a kid."
I'd finally managed to get back to sleep after I replied, though it did take quite a while. I worried about who I sent the message to more than I thought I would, apparently.
"So what's going to be your excuse for the homework this time, Dan?" Drago asked. "...Dan?"
"Drago? What did you say?"
As much as I tried to listen, Drago's voice seemed to be getting quieter and seemed more distant every passing second. My body started to heat up as well. I smelled… Burning?
Shun's POV
"Ah… I hope I see Dan soon" I sighed dreamily.
"Shun! Welcome!" a dozen fan-girls screamed.
I sighed, shaking my head. Too many fan-girls. It seems that I gained quite the name after defending Dan from them for so long, so they started chasing after me as well.
"Hi." I replied in monotone.
Anyway, back to Dan.
I smiled as I spotted Dan across the hall.
"Dan!" I smiled brightly, and then frowned. "Dan?" I called, running over.
"What's up buddy? Are you okay?"
He ignored me and collapsed on the floor.
"... Nurse!" I yelled, getting my thoughts back in order. I hate seeing Dan in this state, and am especially shocked for this to have happened first thing in the morning, and now of all times. Considering it hasn't happened at all in quite a while. Could it have something to do with the weird vibe I've been getting from Runo?
There's been various occasions in which Dan's collapsed like this in the past, though the doctors could never explain it. All they said, is that he always appeared to be running quite a high fever. They labelled it as an unknown and concerning condition, and researchers were investigating as I spoke.
"Dan, hang in there… please" I begged.
"SHUN KAZAMI!"
I looked up, surprised. Instead of the nurse I'd called for, running towards me was…
Runo's POV
"Runo!"
"Oh hey, Julie, Alice." I grinned.
It's been a few days since the sleepover, and thank Vestroia Julie and Alice haven't bugged me about Dan since.
No. But I've been able to do quite the teasing myself. I chuckled evilly.
"So Julie, how's things with Billy?"
She blushed. "U-um well, you know. It's cool."
Billy is Julie's childhood friend. One of the minor royal members from a distant Subterra family. Nobody had heard of them so when he revealed themselves, it was quite the shock.
Julie has been crushing on Billy since she first met him as a kid, so always has the most hilarious reactions whenever I ask her about him.
Julie gained an evil smirk of her own.
Oh no.
"Well if you care about Billy so much, how's Dan?"
I should have known this was a mistake.
"Dan is–"
I cut myself off as I glanced into the distance.
"Dan, hang in there… please" I heard Shun beg.
My overprotective instincts for Dan kicked in.
"SHUN KAZAMI!"
He faced me, surprised.
Oh, he had it coming.
Shun's POV
... Runo.
I started panicking. Runo had a deadly gleam in her eyes and it certainly wasn't the most pleasant experience to be faced directly with it.
"What did you do to him Shun Kazami?" Runo shouted.
"I didn't do anything, I swear!" I protested.
What right does she have to take charge of him anyway. He's myfriend. I started preparing to properly defend myself.
"Well I'm taking him with me," Runo concluded.
…
"HUH?"
I watched as she dragged, yes, literally dragged Dan across the floor. I heard some people sniggering at me. I shot them glares of my own and proceeded to leave.
Runo's POV
I stormed away from Shun. "That damn Shun," I ranted to myself, "who does he think he is, messing with Dan like that?"
"Runo"
I stopped, confused. I swear I just heard a voice that sounded like Dan's.
"Runo!"
That is Dan's voice!
I looked to see a previously on the floor Dan, now standing, bruised and angry.
"Runo. Why did you drag me across the floor and why did you freak out at Shun like that?" Dan yelled furiously.
"U-um," I found my voice. "I was taking, well dragging you to the nurse because Shun attacked you," I answered confidently.
Dan's eyes softened momentarily, but then hardened.
"I appreciate you care, but Shun had nothing to do with me on the floor," he stated.
"I'm so sorry Dan," I cried. "I didn't know!"
I suddenly felt a hand on my own. I gasped, realising it was Dan's.
"It's alright Runo, but can you please apologise to Shun? It wasn't fair on him. He does nothing but look out for me."
I nodded an affirmative and prepared to move.
"Also, if you want to know, this isn't unusual. I sometimes get into states like this. It's like my body temperature increases rapidly and it can't handle the sudden heat."
My ears perked up like that. Does it have something to do with his ancestors? I know that there have been records from the past, explaining how descendants of Pyrus, if unable to contain their inner powers, have been affected like this.
I shook my head and continued walking. I need to apologise to Shun, if that's what Dan wants, even if it is a very reluctant apology. … I don't trust Shun. I can't. Nobody knows much about the mysterious Ventus royal family after all. All I've been told is that he was, according to all records, raised in isolation. Even the current Queen of Ventus has never turned up to any of the Vestroia council meetings; a meeting between the descendants of the Ancients, held every 5 years. Nothing else is known.
Dan's POV
I watched Runo's retreating back, quizzically. She'd stopped for a second, as if in thought.
Does she know something about my condition?
"Nah. She can't know anything like that, can she? The lack of sleep must have left me imagining things" I said to Drago. "...Drago?" I received a snore in response. I sweat-dropped. "Sleeping huh? I guess you must be tired after being woken up all of the time by me. Sorry bud."
I laughed at his antics until I was hit with a sudden and intriguing time, in comparison to all the others times I'd collapsed like this, my body felt much hotter. Could it have something to do with message?
I shrugged. "Who knows?"
The next day
Runo's POV
Yesterday was embarrassing. I didn't realise my lack of trust for Shun made me become that overprotective of Dan. Regardless,
"Why isn't Dan calling me?"
To say I'm concerned is an understatement. I tried messaging my mother, to get a message across to the king of Pyrus, but it was unable to connect. Probably due to the difficulties of connection between worlds. The only time it actually connected, my mother asked me if I'm in love with Dan yet. That romance fanatic.
I suppose I have to be if I'm going to marry him. I sighed. Though, to be honest, my heart does flutter slightly whenever I see him. He just reminds me of someone so much, I just don't know who.
"The lack of connection is frustrating but I guess I should have expected this. This is my mission after all."
I managed to get Dan's number recently, convincing him that I'm really interested in being friends. Though he has yet to message me.
"Maybe he's over you," Julie snickered.
I walked over, ready to punch Julie in the face.
"Why is that the only thing you pick up on?"
My violent behaviour, if enraged, is well known, along with my quick-temper, so many knew to not anger me. Julie saw this as a good teasing point though.
"You guys, stop it!" Alice yelled.
"Alice why do you always have to be the peacemaker?" I shouted. "After all, you're part of the Darkus royal family, it goes against your nature, right?"
Alice glared at me and then Julie with stormy eyes. I don't know about Julie, but I was quaking in fear.
And people thought I was scary.
"Runo, what the heck? And Julie, apologise to Runo, right now!" Alice shouted.
I guess I know not to say anything like that about the Darkus royal family. I understand it isn't true anyway. There's a lot of prejudice against them because of suspicious behaviour in the past, but most of the Darkus citizens and certainly Alice are actually the most peaceful people out there.
Julie was screaming at this point. She'd never been one for getting yelled at.
I would have normally found this situation funny, if directed at someone else. I mean, sure, Alice is just about the kindest person I know, but when she gets angry… She gets really angry.
"I'm sorry Runo, please forgive me," Julie begged, getting down on her knees and bowing.
"You're forgiven, Julie," I said reluctantly, eyes turned away. I was a bit embarrassed at my reaction to Julie in all honestly. "Also, Alice, I am really sorry about my comment, I hope you can forgive me. I should know better to react to badly to Julie now. I know it's only teasing."
"It's fine Runo," Alice said, her eyes softening.
I've never understood how Alice is able to do that. To change moods so quickly.
But there was something odd this time. I could have sworn I heard a slight waver in her voice.
Has something happened? She had been outside my room earlier, for quite a long time, and her eyes seemed slightly red when she came back in. I didn't ask about it though, as I knew she would dislike that.
Dan's POV
"Hey Shun, are you ready?"
Today being a Saturday, I'd decided to go to the park and Shun volunteered to go with me. This was something to be very happy about. I'd barely been able to see Shun outside of lessons for the remainder of the week in school and it felt awful.
"Yeah, sorry about the wait. I'll be out now," Shun replied.
After a few minutes, we reached the park. Shun and I had been to the park a lot over the years; it fortunately being quite close to our houses.
"Want to race Dan?" Shun asked.
Of course he would ask to do that. Every single time we did this, he won.
"Fine. But only to the other end of the park and back," I negotiated.
"'Kay. Let's go!"
I watched Shun take off and prepared to jog after him. Considering I always lost, I realised that it would be more enjoyable if I took a more leisurely jog around the park. Shun was always so fast that he never noticed and ended up doing extra laps anyway.
I started to move but stopped suddenly, feeling my body temperature rise. I groaned. "Oh not again!"
Shun's POV
"Dan? Are you keeping up okay?" I smirked to myself. discretely.
Dan probably didn't realise but I recognised that he'd never been able to keep up with me but I guess he didn't know that I knew. I was well aware of his preferred jogging.
I glanced behind me to see where he gotten to.
"Dan?"
He still stood at the starting point, but he seemed unsteady on his feet.
I ran back over as quickly as I could. I wasn't prepared for what I was about to hear.
Dan's POV
I've managed to hold it off for this long but I know I'm not going to last much longer. I would call for Shun but he's too far away. I thought to my contacts.
Ah, Runo! I get a weird vibe from her. Maybe she knows what's going on?
I quickly dialled her number.
"FINALLY! Why have you not been calling me Dan? I've been worried sick!" Runo shouted.
"I'm so sorry Runo, I can exp–"
"You've been seeing another girl, admit it!" she screeched.
"Huh? No. How is that relevant anyway?"
"Because… Dammit I think I may love you okay?"
"D-Dan…"
I looked up, shocked.
"Shun? I can explain–"
It's always at the worst times when it really hits you hard.
"Shun… No. Aaaah" I screamed in pain.
"Dan, no!"
Shun's POV
"I love you!"
Runo's voice.
I halted, stunned, already feeling the tears starting to form.
"D-Dan…"
He stared at me, shocked.
"Shun? I can explain–"
But is there any point anymore?
"Shun… No. Aaaah" he screamed in pain.
"Dan, no!" I shouted.
I ran over to where he had collapsed on the floor.
"Dan? Speak to me!"
I felt for his temperature. He was burning. Hotter than ever before.
"Dan…"
Runo's POV
"Shun?" I heard Dan say.
What's Shun doing there?
The rest of their conversation was muffled until I heard Dan emitting a scream of pain.
"No, Dan!"
Burn… BURN
"That voice. No!"
I heard what sounded like fire and my phone cut.
Author's notes: Thank you for reading; I hope you enjoyed!
I'd like to thank Angel-of-Anime Mizumo, Arnya Demitri, Ani Pendragon and Maka A. Kurosaki for following and Darkus Omega Lenidas and Irene Malfoys for following and adding this to your favourites. Thank you so much for your support! I appreciate it.
AnimeRoxx: Thanks for the review, I appreciate it! Thanks for reading as well, it means a lot!
Ani Pendragon: Thanks for the review! I hope you enjoy!
Okay, I'll see you! Please follow/favourite/review; I'd really appreciate it.
